Friday 25 April 2014

Here come da roof, Mon.

     This will be a short posting, because as 'they say' (whoever 'they' are)  a picture says a thousand words. And in this case it's just true.



























     As you can obviously see, the roof... it be rising. How they get the beams up into position, I have no clue. No block or tackle. Just muscle. Big muscle. Hunky big muscle. Oops, whatever.


























     As I'm writing this, the guys are finishing all the rafters. My photos can't keep up with the work! In the foreground is part of the flat roof which will carry the solar panels for hot water. Yes, Mother Nature will make our showers nice and toasty. And for free. OK, what happens when it's cloudy? Not that it happens for very long. But if it is overcast, then electricity  kicks in. Not free.


      All the roofing materials are on-site. The plywood sub-sheathing is sitting in the patio. The actual roof tiles (or shakes) are downstairs with the bamboo that will go between the rafters inside. Everything has to acclimate on location. After the beams are in position they pour the concrete walls. Then they finish the roof. But don't let me get ahead of myself! Just know that we are having a blast.

      Can't you tell? Hey Bob, get that wine glass out of Jim's face. And Jim, take off those shades!










Thursday 10 April 2014

Sometimes, you must get stoned.

      We are just following the advise of Bob Dylan...."everybody must get stoned." And so the mason showed up this week to begin work on landscaping walls and planters.
      Meet Tyson Maximin, the man with a pick and hammer. We have amassed quite a bit of rock during the excavation process, so Tyson has a lot to choose from.



























      These walls are fitted together with very little mortar. On the outside it looks like there is no mortar at all. But it's all hidden inside. The top edge is the only area where you can see the cement. Just to keep the water out. The color variation is wonderful.



























      Many of the homes here use native stone as decoration. Some even put shells and colored glass in with the stone. But we have chosen to keep in simple and modern, to go with the modern style of our house. After all, the stone is free. Only Tyson is expensive!



























      Look, Jim is on the phone, again. Probably trying to sell a client a marketing project. Jim has been a busy guy down here. He's been up to Maine and down to Anguilla. Bob has been as far as the beach. Whatever.




















      Look, The cook is surveying his new kitchen. Open-air cooking? Maybe not, the roofing materials arrived yesterday. We can't wait for a roof! A bit of shade will feel just right!